Postal Inspector: Man Used Mail To Get Revenge

MILWAUKEE, WI -- One criminal sought revenge through the U.S. Postal Service and damaged the credit of more than a dozen victims!

One of the victims, who didn't want to be identified, said, "You don't know why it's happening or who did it to you. Did we make someone mad, irate that they are trying to get back at us?"

She was victimized by someone seeking retribution in the strangest of ways for a perceived injustice.

U.S. Postal Inspector Derik Thieme said, "He decided he would bombard them with tons of subscriptions and mail order items causing them to receive billing notices and collection notices, things that would negatively affect their credit."

One example: magazine subscriptions. The suspect filled out dozens of forms and checked the bill me later box.

Thieme said, "What happens is they received these products, they didn't order them but the companies want to hold them responsible for them to pay for them. Once it goes to collector that is something that can be reported to a credit agency and bureau and can affect their credit report."

The victim spent days on the phone talking to the companies sending the magazines and merchandise to tell them there was a mistake.

Postal inspectors learned this victim and 12 others were targeted by a suspect already known to law enforcement. The suspect was charged with mail fraud and got 8 months in prison with probation.

The victim says she learned a lesson and now knows she should have called officials right away to report the crime. "I just hope it never happens again."

Postal Inspectors advise checking your credit report at least once a year to help catch a problem before it's too late.